Seattle Kraken Expansion Expectation: Playoffs Are Possible

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The path to rapid success was charted for the Seattle Kraken thanks to the immediate prosperity of the Vegas Golden Knights when they joined the NHL four years ago.

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However, what the Golden Knights accomplished in their incredible 2017-18 inaugural season will also likely create more waves for Seattle’s expansion franchise to endure.

As the Kraken prepare for their debut Tuesday against the Golden Knights, they are preparing for a league that will not bypass them like new teams have in the past.

“Nobody expected them to be a top team, a top team,” Kraken defender Mark Giordano said of the Golden Knights on the NHL @TheRink podcast. “But there is not going to be that with us. The teams will be ready. They’ll know what it was like in Las Vegas. We had the exact same rules when it came to the expansion draft rules, so the teams will not take us lightly in any way. “

Because the Golden Knights were an immediate tour de force, with the biggest season of expansion in North American history winning a division title en route to losing in the Stanley Cup final to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, the Kraken will be held, unfairly or not, to that standard.

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Which begs the big question: Can the Kraken duplicate the success of its expansion cousins?

Seattle players better ignore each and every comparison and expectation. However, having won four of the six preseason games, they have done a good job of inserting a winning sentiment into the club’s culture.

“Now it’s about believing, too,” said Giordano, who was claimed from the Calgary Flames in the expansion draft. “Everybody said it, and everybody knows it, we have a lot of good players in the expansion draft. There were a lot of good exposed players in the league because of the way the rules are, and now it’s up to us to get out on the ice and act and get some wins together, rack up points and take the next step. “

While the Kraken may not boast a litany of superstars – Giordano, the 2019 Norris Trophy winner as the league’s best defender, is arguably the biggest name, they’ve built a team that can succeed with a hardworking style, brave and fast. and strong defensive play off No. 1 goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer, who was signed as a free agent for Colorado Avalanche, and backup goalkeeper Chris Driedger.

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“Those are the fundamental building blocks of the baseline, along with skill and intelligence,” coach Dave Hakstol told the Seattle Times. “Those are things to have on a good hockey team.”

Seattle’s roster may not be a Stanley Cup contender on the surface, but the Kraken can’t be immediately thrown out of playoff contention for a couple of reasons.

For starters, the Pacific Division, especially beyond the Golden Knights, has a litany of middle to rebuilding teams, so Seattle could earn itself a playoff spot.

Another reason is how general manager Ron Francis built the team. It can be argued that the Kraken has more offensive punch than Vegas originally boasted.

Seattle has veterans Jordan Eberle, Jaden Schwartz, Yanni Gourde and Marcus Johansson, who boast multiple 20-goal seasons, and a cast of players like Joonas Donskoi, Alexander Wennberg, Jared McCann and Calle Jarnkrok heading into their prime. and they wait for a greater opportunity. . It’s also possible for a young gamer like Morgan Geekie to jump to the forefront.

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Add the buzz around the team: NBA Hall of Fame star Shaquille O’Neal was wearing a Kraken jersey when he introduced his new restaurant in town, and you never know what can happen when the score rises. impulse.

“It’s really exciting,” Driedger said of the frenzy around a new team. “I mean, it’s one of the reasons I signed here. It’s a lot of fun arriving in a new city for the inaugural season. There is a lot of excitement around. Everyone is excited in the room. The fans are animated. The city seems to be on fire with Kraken hockey. I think we are going to harness that energy and bring it into the season. “